Friday, March 31, 2017

Patristic Wisdom: Looking to the Fifth Sunday in Lent

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” (Jn 11:25–27)

When Christ sees that she did not understand the truth about Him, He clarifies the matter and says, “I am the life,” meaning “You do not need to look for Me somewhere else or to hope that after a long time your brother will have a resurrection. I, who call people to this, am here.” The Son is life by nature, who calls all things into being and who raises everyone by His own power, not simply raising them but raising them to life. That is why He joins “life” to the word resurrection. We must note that the Lord calls Himself “life,” not just “living one,” as some godlessly dare to say about Him. There is a difference between “life” and “living one.” A “living one” is capable of receiving life, but “life” causes living, just as wisdom causes a wise person. The one receives; the other gives.